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Build Influence Without Being Seen as a Threat (Part 2 of 3): Curiosity That Creates Trust

curiosity influence validation Oct 09, 2025

In Part 1 of the "Build Influence Without Being Seen as a Threat" series, we focused on Strategic Empathy… leading with what matters most to your stakeholder. Now we’ll build on that foundation with Curiosity that Creates Trust: asking brave, compassionate questions that surface pressures, fears, and desires so your ideas land without triggering a threat response.

Why Curiosity (and Why It’s a Little Uncomfortable).

Research and real-world practice point to a hard truth: people are most motivated to act by loss pain… what they’re afraid of losing (visibility, budget, credibility, timeline, even their job). Until we understand that loss pain, and the pressures driving it (our recommendations can miss the mark and even worse, feel like a threat.) Curiosity requires courage because it asks us to name what may be unsaid and then truly listen.

Validate Without Agreeing.

Start by acknowledging their reality, clearly and respectfully. Validation isn’t capitulation… it’s connection. For ...